* This does not relate to every church, every church body, or every pastor *

There's something wrong in churches today.  In alot of them, there is one group of people who seems to think that they alone run the church.  What the body as a whole wants doesn't seem to matter at all.  Whatever happened to "One Body In Christ"?  Here's an example of one church that I know of...

There's a group of people in this church, some of them founders, who feel that since they started the church, things should always be run their way.  Never mind what's best for the church as a whole.  It's what's best for that group.  There've been many pastors over the years, but the really good ones that preach the bible as it is, (hell, brimstone, and all) and step on people's toes during almost every sermon, get dismissed or run off, even if the church has started to grow under them.  Why is this?  I think some just don't like to be corrected, even if it is by God's word.  They think they know what's right and woe to those who tell them different.  The body as a whole is supposed to have a vote in everything, and the Pastor is supposed to be able to work with the body and lead the church.  But. who's to say that the votes aren't overridden when they're counted by those who think they know best?  Everything is backwards.  They bring in Pastors who are convenient and who won't make many waves, but under those, the body just isn't getting fed and going to the church is more of routine than getting your hunger for the word satisfied.  There are too many clics, and too many people competing with others when it comes to clothes, cars, etc.  It's like they've lost site of what really matters.  They're so absorbed in self, that they've lost site of their purpose as christians.  People aren't welcomed inthe church like they should be, unless they look a certain way.  I've seen people that have sat there during the service and were only approached by 2 or 3 people, if that, when there's 150 or more in the sanctuary.  Who knows if that person could've gotten saved that day if they felt welcomed enough to go to the altar? 

And speaking of the altar...no Pastor or whoever, should call for a dismissal prayer when people are still praying at the altar.  Let the pianist play softly or let someone sing until everyone is finished, even if it takes an hour.  Alot of people won't go to the altar unless there's something that they really need to pray about, so let them pray, pray with them, or pray for them.  Don't dismiss them.

I don't know how you are, but if I don't feel welcome somewhere, I just sit where I am for a while, and eventually get up and leave.  What if unsaved visitors feel the same way?  Some have drinking buddies, drugging buddies,  and friends they see at clubs...they're accepted amongst those people, but not in church?  When will christians (or people who call themselves christians) get a clue?  God looks on the heart.  You don't have to dress fancy, drive a fancy car, or have a fat bank account to be accepted by him.  All you have to do is come as you are, repent, and ask him into your heart and life.  He created all of us, and loves us all.  Why can't we love each other?

We all need to clean up our personal lives, and our churches so that God's work can be done properly.  When churches are once again a place where someone can worship God instead of a social center, maybe more christians and non-christians will attend and more people will be fed spiritually and saved.

This is the end of my sermon for today.  No one's perfect, including myself, but there are alot of things all of us can improve on and/or change.   

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